Tunnel Rats. What was the MOS?
What was the MOS?...Small, Stupid and Scared.
Usually 11B...although a lot of 12 series were used.
11B being Infantryman...and 12 series being Combat Engineers.
Could pretty much be any MOS, though, as it was a volunteer situation.
The only one other than 11B that I knew was a 67N (Helicopter Mechanic), who had volunteered with the 1st Cav, but was assigned to an Engineer unit.
Typically, they were the smaller guys...135 - 160 lbs, slim, wiry types.
I tried it...suffered immediate claustrophobia, from which I suffer to this day...and told the LT to stick it...no way in hell was I going back into that hole.
All I carried was a M48 bayonet and a .45.
As I recall, that was all anyone had, although I knew of one guy that had a pot metal .22 (RG, I think), sent from home.
(Yeah, it happened, back then.)
I am aware of shots being fired by one Rat, with a .45...his ears rang for months, so I'm told.
The bayonet was to dig with, primarily, but could conceivably be used for defense, but that was damned close quarters.
But some could, some couldn't.
In later years, I was offered a sub ride in an inter-service goodwill thing.
I couldn't make it more than halfway down the ladder.
Like I said, some could, some couldn't.
I could not, and I have the utmost respect for those that could tolerate the dank, mildew/mold smelling, stinky ass VC smell, dirt dribbling down your back, snakes, bugs, etc...and the constant fear of the damned thing caving in.
For me, it wasn't the idea of encountering a VC...hell, I did that daily above ground...it was the thought of just being underneath that dirt, enclosed...dark...smelly.
Gives me the "willies", even now, to think of it.